PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't been good since Lloyd McClendon was a player, and that was a long time ago. He expects them to be very good very soon, and that's why he's disappointed to be out as manager.

Maybe McClendon got out just in time - hours after he was fired Tuesday, the Pirates dropped their 10th in 11 games, a 4-2 defeat in 12 innings to Arizona that assured a 13th consecutive losing season and their fifth since McClendon's hiring.

While the Pirates have repeatedly fielded teams with marginal prospects and low-paid free agents since winning the 1992 NL East title, when McClendon was a platoon outfielder, their first concerted youth movement in years might have led to his firing.

The Pirates have debuted seven rookies since the season began, including unbeaten left-hander Zach Duke (6-0) and center fielder Chris Duffy (.341), and general manager Dave Littlefield clearly wasn't happy with their development.

Since being 30-30 on June 11, the Pirates have lost 52 of 77 to all but assure themselves of a fourth season of 90 or more losses since 1999 - and, in turn, McClendon's firing .

"It became evident we needed to try something different," Littlefield said. "It wasn't working. ... We were underperforming."

To Littlefield, the quality of the play hasn't mirrored the quality of the youthful talent.

"We have a talented group of younger players who could be around here for three, four, five years," Littlefield said. "We've got to continue to show improvement. It's been apparent for some time that we weren't seeing that."

The Pirates' 13 consecutive losing seasons are three short of the major league record.

"I know we haven't been playing well, but I was somewhat surprised," McClendon said of being fired so late in the season. "We've struggled for so long, but now that we've got a group of good young players, some excellent young pitching, I was excited to see what we could do."

McClendon hopes to wear a major league uniform again next season, perhaps as a third base coach or bench coach, and hasn't given up on managing despite his 336-446 record.

"I'm 46 - there's a lot of managing left in me, about 20 years worth," he said.

The Pirates had some good players under McClendon - Brian Giles, Jason Kendall, Jason Schmidt, Jason Bay - just not enough of them. Still, they had a reputation for playing hard and being aggressive under McClendon, who became well-known for his run-ins with umpires and, at times, opposing teams.

He was suspended Friday for screaming expletives at Cardinals coach Dave Duncan on Aug. 24, after Duncan talked to Pirates pitcher Rick White about an up-and-in pitch the night before.

The question now is who will manage the Pirates next season. Bench coach Pete Mackanin will run the team the rest of the season, but managing general partner Kevin McClatchy wants a manager with major league experience. Littlefield will evaluate the team the rest of the season, then hire the new manager.

One of baseball's top candidates, Jim Leyland, wants to manage again, and close to his Pittsburgh home. Leyland managed the Pirates from 1986-96, but asked out of his contract so he could go to a contender. Leyland won the World Series a year later with Florida, but quit managing after the 1999 season with Colorado.

McClatchy said Leyland didn't burn any bridges with the Pirates by leaving, and Littlefield is free to hire him if he wants.

"All I'll say is this is Dave's decision - he can entertain anyone he wants. I'm not going to try to sway him one way or another," McClatchy said. "I'm fine with what happened and that was a long time ago. Whoever Dave picks, we want someone who gives us the best chance to win."

Leyland, who attended Tuesday night's Diamondbacks-Pirates game as a Cardinals scout, wouldn't rule out a return but didn't say if he would pursue it.

Oakland manager Ken Macha also lives in Pittsburgh and was disappointed when he didn't get the job when McClendon was hired.

"I'm not answering any questions about Pittsburgh. I have a job here in Oakland," said Macha, whose contract is up after this season.

The Pirates have lost five straight, 10 of 11 and 15 of 19. They also have lost nine in a row at home, their longest streak since PNC Park opened in 2001.